Learning German? You're Not Alone.

If you're an English speaker starting your German learning journey, chances are you’ve already said “Ich bin gut” and thought you nailed it. You didn’t. (But we love that energy.)

German can look familiar at first. Some words are similar, and the alphabet is basically the same. But pretty soon, you realise German has its own unique rhythm—its own logic, rules, and traps that English speakers often fall into.

Here’s the good news: every mistake is a sign you’re learning. And with a little guidance, you can avoid the most common ones and learn smarter, not harder.

So let’s dive into the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when learning German—and how to avoid them.

1. Translating Word-for-Word

One of the first traps English speakers fall into is direct translation. English and German don’t always line up the same way.

• “I am good” → Ich bin gut (This can sound odd in German—more like "I'm skilled" or even... "I'm sexy")
  
  

• Correct: Mir geht’s gut (I'm doing well)

German expressions often work differently. It's not just about vocabulary—it's about thinking in German.

2. Skipping Grammar Cases

German uses grammar cases to show the function of a word in a sentence. That means articles like the change based on whether the noun is the subject, object, etc.

• der Hund (the dog – subject)

• den Hund (the dog – object)

Not learning this early can lead to confusing sentences later on.

3. Ignoring Gender

Every German noun has a gender:

• der (masculine)

• die (feminine)

• das (neuter)

You can’t guess it from the English version—so it’s important to learn the article with the noun.
Say das Buch (the book), not just Buch.

4. Missing Separable Verbs

German likes to break up its verbs in a sentence.

• anrufen = to call

• “I’ll call you” = Ich rufe dich an
  Notice how an goes to the end? That’s called a separable verb. And it happens a lot in German.

5. Speaking With English Pronunciation

German pronunciation follows its own rules. A few quick fixes:

• W = sounds like V → Wasser (water) = Vah-ser

• V = sounds like F → Vater (father) = Fah-ter

Getting these right helps you sound clearer and more confident.

6. Not Speaking Early Enough

Many learners want to “know more” before they start speaking. But fluency doesn’t come from just reading or watching videos. You’ve got to speak—even if you make mistakes!

Start with simple lines like:

• Hallo! – Hello

• Ich heiße... – My name is...

• Wie geht’s? – How are you?
  
  

7. Mixing Up ‘du’ and ‘Sie’

German has two forms of “you”:

• du – informal (friends, family, kids)

• Sie – formal (strangers, elders, work)
  
  

Using du in the wrong setting can come off as rude. When in doubt, use Sie—and wait for the other person to say “Du kannst du sagen” (You can say du).

8. Thinking German = Fancy English

It’s easy to assume German is just English with a few sharp edges. But German has its own structure, musicality, and culture built into the language. Once you treat it as its own world, learning becomes easier—and more fun.

The Shortcut? Learn With Experts.

At The Language SKOOL, we get it. Learning German can feel overwhelming, especially when you're coming from English. That’s why our courses are designed for English speakers who want to speak clearly, confidently, and correctly.

We don’t just teach grammar. We help you use it. Our classes are interactive, our teachers are experienced, and our lessons are built for real-life conversations—from small talk to TEF prep.

 Ready to skip the confusion and start speaking?
Say Hallo to your German learning journey at www.thelanguageskool.com